Chou En-lai, "Premier" and concurrently: "Foreign Minister" of the Soviet-backed puppet regime in Peiping, is reported to have declared at a reception in the Red capital that talks should be held by Asian countries for the settlement of "grave pending issues," Although Chou failed to give a complete list of these issues, he did mention the "strained situation" connected with the Taiwan problem, the Geneva agreement for the restoration of peace in Indo-China, and the unification of Korea. The proposal for the settlement of these issues, when it comes from the mouth of Chou En-lai, is perfectly ridiculous. In the first place, Chou seems to be oblivious of the fact that the gravity of these issues is entirely due to Communist aggression. Had it not been for the policy of aggression pursued by Soviet Russia and her Chinese satellite, there would have been no tension in the Taiwan area, the Vietminh rebels would never have been able to disturb seriously the peace in Indo-China, and the unification of Korea would have long been achieved. In other wads, the Russian and Chinese Communists are the sate trouble-makers in Asia. Even if the talk, proposed by Chou En-lai should actually be held, no satisfactory result could be expected for the simple reason that the Communists would not agree to any settlement unless it be brought about on terms dictated by them. In the second place, the Peiping regime is absolutely unqualified for participation in such talks. Being Soviet puppets and serving as Moscow's tools for the oppression and exploitation. Of the Chinese people, it can have no right to represent the Chinese national in any international conference. The only Chinese Government entitled to represent the Chinese people is the Government of the Republic of China which now temporarily has its site in Taipei. In the third place, the pending issues in this part of the world are far from being only "Asian" in nature. As a matter of fact, these issues are world problems which cannot be satisfactorily solved without the participation of those Western powers whose rights and interests are also at Slake. For these reasons, Chou En-lai's proposal is one which does not deserve to be given any serious attention.
Unification of Germany
The thorny problem of German unification, which has been a subject of negotiation between the Big Three powers and Soviet Russia ever since the termination of World War II, is no nearer its final solution today than it was at any time in the past despite the numberless talks held at Geneva and elsewhere. The negotiators have not been able to reach any agreement for only one reason: namely, Soviet obstruction. For many years Soviet imperial ism has been extending its tentacles in - all directions. So far as the German problem is concerned, Soviet Russia has two objectives, one being primary and the other secondary. Moscow's primary objective is to have the whole of Germany Communized and turned into a Soviet satellite. Failing this, the Russians would of course insist upon having Germany remain divided with East Germany continuing to play the role of a puppet. To Soviet Russia half a cake is better than no cake at all if she is unable to grab the whole cake. The Western powers undoubtedly have long been aware of Moscow motives. In carrying on negotiations with the Russians they were every time hoping against hope that Soviet Russia might perhaps be prevailed upon to change her attitude and agree to the unification of Germany following the holding of free elections. Every time, however, they were disappointed. Soviet policy is always inflexible. The Russians sometimes may change their tactics, if necessary, but their objective never changes. To them the free elections proposed by the Western powers are entirely unacceptable, because they fully realize that the great majority of the German people, if permitted to make their free choice, will choose Chancellor Konrad Adenauer's leadership instead of oppression by the Communists. Soviet Russia cannot be expected to be always satisfied with half a cake. While continuing to keep East Germany under her control, she is hoping that through infiltration and subversion she might some day succeed in bringing West Germany within the Communist orbit. The Western powers and the German people themselves, therefore, would do well to guard against Moscow's treacherous designs. The Big Three's rejection of the security pact proposed by Soviet Russia is highly commendable, and their pledge to Chancellor Adenauer's government that there would be no peace settlement without German unity should not fail to strengthen the German people's determination to fight for the unification of their country.
The Conservatives' Merger in Japan
The merger of the Liberal and Democratic parties in Japan into a new conservative party is a step in the right direction. Ten years after the termination of World War II, Japan's relations with her neighbors may on the whole be said to have returned to normalcy with the exception of a few isolated cases in which agreement has yet to be reached on the payment of reparations. The biggest exception, however, is the case of the Russian Communist, who entered the war against Japan at a time when the latter had already been decisively defeated and her unconditional surrender was expected to be announced momentarily. At the present moment, although peace treaties have been signed between Japan and practically all her erstwhile enemies, Soviet Russia is the only major Allied power which is still balking at the restoration of normal relation with Japan. The Russo-Japanese talks in London have been dragging on for many months without any concrete results largely because the Russians are insisting upon their exorbitant demands on Japan and refuse to make any concessions toward the fulfillment of what the Japanese consider as their legitimate desires. In the meantime, the Russians and their puppets in Peiping are far from being idle. On the contrary, they have been doing everything within their power to help the Communist party in Japan and incite the Japanese Communists to engage in subversive activities against their own Government and disrupt Japan's friendly relations with her democratic neighbors. Obviously the growing strength of the Japanese Communist party is an ill wind which will bring nothing good to the Japanese people. The Government of Japan should certainly take all necessary steps to curb the activities of the Japanese Communists, and should at the same time refrain from acts which tend to give Moscow and Peiping the impression that Japan is inclined to the adoption of a soft policy toward the Communist nations. Unfortunately, some Japanese leaders have been in the habit of making re marks which often give the outside world this undesirable impression. The frequent visits paid to the Communist-controlled mainland by Japanese nationals and the presence in Japan of missions sent out by the Peiping regime are also occurrences which can hardly be expected to have a wholesome effect on the psychology of the Japanese public. As to the emergence of the new Conservative patty, there can be no doubt that it will have the effect of offsetting the merge of the Socialists and will make the leftists' chances of seizing the reins of government even more remote.
China and the Olympics
The recent decision of the Chinese Olympic Committee to send a strong delegation of Chinese athletes to the Olympic Games to be held at Melbourne in 1956 has been rightly hailed by patriotic Chinese both in Taiwan and abroad as am action indicative of the Committee's wisdom and farsightedness. It will be recalled that immediately after the International Olympic Committee had announced that the Chinese Communists would be permitted to participate in the 1956 Olympics, some people in Taiwan expressed the view that Free China should re fuse to take part in the Melbourne Games unless the I.O.C. heeded her protest and reversed its decision in favor of the Chinese Reds. There can be no doubt that the decision of the I.O.C. to let the. Chinese Communists participate in the Olympics is unwise and regrettable because the Peiping regime being a Soviet puppet and an oppressor of the 450,000,000 Chinese on the mainland, is not entitled to represent the Chinese people. However, for Free China to withdraw from the Melbourne Games would be a step extremely harmful to her anti-Communist cause. Should the Chinese Government fail to send a delegation to Melbourne, the Chinese Communists would be in a position to claim that they alone are rightful representatives of the Chinese people sent, by the "government" in Peiping. The only Chinese flag to be seen by the participants in the Olympics would be Peiping's despicable five starred flag. If this should actually turn out to be the case, we can easily imagine that many people would be bitterly disappointed including Free China's friends among the athletes of the free nations and the Overseas Chinese in Australia. Now that Free China has decided to participate in the 1956 Olympic Games, all freedom-loving people will be enthused to see the Blue-Sky and White-Sun flag fluttering in the air at the Melbourne Olympics stadium. The warm reception to be accorded Free China's athletes by the overseas Chinese will stand in sharp contrast to the latter's coolness toward the Communist delegation. The athletes from Taiwan may not be able to win many points at Melbourne, but we do not doubt that they will try their bet and also give a fine display of sportsmanship, which after all is the most important thing in any athletic contest. Above all, they will prove to the world that the Chinese Government in Taipei is the only Government representative of the will of the Chinese people.
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British Attitude on Package Deal, 1952
"The United Kingdom considers that any proposal which made the admission of one country or a number of countries conditional upon the admission of another country was contrary to the provisions of the Charter and to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice." -Sir Gladwyn Jebb.